An adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Sandman comic books has taken a step closer with the news that Joseph Gordon-Levitt has become attached to the project, with a view to directing and/or acting in the resulting film.

The 500 Days of Summer and Inception star is currently riding high after the success of his directorial debut Don Jon, which has given him increased creative clout in Hollywood. He has joined forces with Batman Begins/Man of Steel writer David S Goyer to work on the project, though no writer has yet been hired.

Gaiman's Sandman series, which originally ran between 1989 and 1996, and which revolve around a figure called Dream, has been regularly targeted for film adaptation, but nothing as yet has materialised.

Just to clarify, folks. I've signed on as a producer on Sandman. The rest remains to be seen. Delighted you guys are excited. I am too!

Gordon-Levitt subsequently tweeted: "I've signed on as a producer on Sandman. The rest remains to be seen. Delighted you guys are excited. I am too!" Gaiman, a prolific user of social media, is yet to issue any comment, though his retweeting of Gordon-Levitt's announcement suggests he approves. An earlier tweet from Gordon Levitt implies Gaiman himself is involved in the adaptation.

Meanwhile, Gordon-Levitt has also tweeted a photo of himself recording the English language voice track for Hayao Miyazaki's The Wind Rises. The latest film from the Japanese animation maestro has proved controversial as it is a biopic of the designer of the country's feared wartime Zero fighter plane, but it has not prevented the film from registering a presence on the US awards circuit, including a Golden Globe nomination for best animated film.